This photo is in Memphis, Tennessee in September, 1943. The photographer is Esther Bubley. It is of people waiting for a bus at the Greyhound terminal. It is during the day in an urban setting with natural lighting. There are many, many people in the picture that are all crowded together and young to middle aged. They seem to be wealthy because they are well dressed. Coincidentally, they are all white and they are under a sign for white people that indicates where they should go to wait for the bus when they need to go to work or wherever they have to go. There is a bus in the picture. Everyone seems very crowded into the space but at the same time they look kind of leisurely and well put together. I feel like this picture is a nice depiction of how different the lifestyles are between African American and Caucasian people are because while these white people are so cooperative and orderly in even a hectic situation, African Americans are usually forced around and shoved into a small and uncomfortable area, even when they’re trying to do something as simple as getting on a bus.
This is a photo by Jack Delano in Durham, North Carolina in May of 1940. The subject of this photo is an African American man waiting for the bus to pick him up. There are a few other people in the photo but none are as obviously important as he is. The photo also shows the bus packed with other people inside of it. The man seems to resent where he is standing. He is dressed in all white with a white hat on. The people in the background behind him are bent over and also seem unenthusiastic to be where they are. There is a sign that says “colored waiting room.” The bus in front of them is very small. I think this picture portrays how different life is in something as simple as waiting for a bus for “colored” people versus white people. The African Americans clearly do not want to be where they are and the reason for that is probably because they are treated so harshly in public. They must feel betrayed because they have to stay in their own waiting room when there is nothing wrong with them at all; there is really no reason they should be separated from any other person who wants to go on a bus. I think this photo is very powerful for this reason – it gives you a real insight into what the African Americans had to deal with and feel every day.
Halifax, North Carolina. April 1938.
John Vachon, photographer.
"A drinking fountain on the county courthouse lawn." [Sign: "Colored."]
This is a photo taken by John Vachon in Halifax, North Carolina in April of 1938. It is taken in black and white during the day in what looks to be a suburban atmosphere. The subject of the picture is a little African American boy who is drinking from a water fountain that is labeled specifically for "colored" people. The fountain is iscolated from the rest of the park in a dirty area. It looks old and rusty. This photo sends a very strong message about the way that "colored" people were treated as opposed to white people who had a much more luxious lifestyle. The african americans were frowned upon but not only did people think rude things about them, they also acted against black people.
This photo is in Memphis, Tennessee in September, 1943. The photographer is Esther Bubley. It is of people waiting for a bus at the Greyhound terminal. It is during the day in an urban setting with natural lighting. There are many, many people in the picture that are all crowded together and young to middle aged. They seem to be wealthy because they are well dressed. Coincidentally, they are all white and they are under a sign for white people that indicates where they should go to wait for the bus when they need to go to work or wherever they have to go. There is a bus in the picture. Everyone seems very crowded into the space but at the same time they look kind of leisurely and well put together. I feel like this picture is a nice depiction of how different the lifestyles are between African American and Caucasian people are because while these white people are so cooperative and orderly in even a hectic situation, African Americans are usually forced around and shoved into a small and uncomfortable area, even when they’re trying to do something as simple as getting on a bus.
This is a photo by Jack Delano in Durham, North Carolina in May of 1940. The subject of this photo is an African American man waiting for the bus to pick him up. There are a few other people in the photo but none are as obviously important as he is. The photo also shows the bus packed with other people inside of it. The man seems to resent where he is standing. He is dressed in all white with a white hat on. The people in the background behind him are bent over and also seem unenthusiastic to be where they are. There is a sign that says “colored waiting room.” The bus in front of them is very small. I think this picture portrays how different life is in something as simple as waiting for a bus for “colored” people versus white people. The African Americans clearly do not want to be where they are and the reason for that is probably because they are treated so harshly in public. They must feel betrayed because they have to stay in their own waiting room when there is nothing wrong with them at all; there is really no reason they should be separated from any other person who wants to go on a bus. I think this photo is very powerful for this reason – it gives you a real insight into what the African Americans had to deal with and feel every day.
Halifax, North Carolina. April 1938.
John Vachon, photographer.
"A drinking fountain on the county courthouse lawn." [Sign: "Colored."]
This is a photo taken by John Vachon in Halifax, North Carolina in April of 1938. It is taken in black and white during the day in what looks to be a suburban atmosphere. The subject of the picture is a little African American boy who is drinking from a water fountain that is labeled specifically for "colored" people. The fountain is iscolated from the rest of the park in a dirty area. It looks old and rusty. This photo sends a very strong message about the way that "colored" people were treated as opposed to white people who had a much more luxious lifestyle. The african americans were frowned upon but not only did people think rude things about them, they also acted against black people.